Dianthus plant named ‘WP05 Enid’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘WP05 ENID’ that is characterized by compact mounding habit, gray-green foliage and mildly fragrant pink flowers with large red-purple markings. In combination these traits set ‘WP05 ENID’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Dianthus  known to the inventor.

Genus: Dianthus.

Species: ×hybrida.

Denomination: ‘WP05 ENID’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDianthus, or garden pink, that is grown for use as an ornamentallandscape and container plant. It is known botanically asDianthus×hybrida and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivarname ‘WP05 ENID’. It is one of two applications by the inventor of twoco-pending cultivars of Dianthus. The other is titled Dianthus PlantNamed ‘WP05 YVES’ U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/523,431.

‘WP05 ENID’ is the product of a breeding program started by the inventorin 1985 in a cultivated area of Houndspool, Dawlish, Devon, UnitedKingdom. The primary focus of the breeding program is to produce newcultivars of garden pinks that exhibit unique characteristics of flowercolor and form, and which, preferably, are highly and pleasantlyfragrant. In addition, new varieties are selected for beingwell-proportioned in respect of ratio of overall height (includingflower canopy) to overall width.

Ordinarily, the inventor carries out controlled crosses, with knownparents, and selected new varieties for sets of similar characteristicsin order to make whole sets of series. ‘WP05 ENID’ is a chance hybridplant that was selected in 2003 as a single seedling from a large group(which the inventor designated as Family 9722) of open-pollinatedseedlings which itself had resulted from open-pollination of a group ofunnamed and unreleased plants of Dianthus from the inventor's largecollection of Dianthus. Thus, on this occasion, the inventor is unableto identify either the male or the female parent, or to draw comparisonsbetween ‘WP05 ENID’ and either parent.

‘WP05 ENID’ was selected for its distinguishing combination of compactwell-proportioned habit, floriferous blooming, perfume fragrance anddouble bi-colored flowers. The closest cultivar known to the inventor isDianthus Plant names ‘DEVON YOLANDE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,029). ‘WP05ENID’ is distinguished from ‘DEVON YOLANDE’ by having a large red-purplecenter area in each flower whereas ‘DEVON YOLANDE’ has a smallred-purple center area in each flower.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theinventor in 2003, in a cultivated area of Houndspool, United Kingdom.The method of asexual propagation used was stem cuttings. Since thattime the characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stableand are reproduced true to type in successive generations of vegetativepropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Dianthus cultivar ‘WP05 ENID’. These traitsin combination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercialvarieties known to the inventor. ‘WP05 ENID’ has not been tested underall possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions withouthowever any difference in genotype.

-   -   1. Dianthus ‘WP05 ENID’ exhibits a compact mounding growth        habit.    -   2. Dianthus ‘WP05 ENID’ exhibits gray-green foliage.    -   3. Dianthus ‘WP05 ENID’ exhibits fragrant pink flowers with        red-purple markings.    -   4. Dianthus ‘WP05 ENID’ is 20-25 cm in overall height, including        flower canopy, and 25-30 cm in width in a 1.5-litre container.    -   5. Dianthus ‘WP05 ENID’ is an evergreen perennial ornamental.    -   6. Dianthus ‘WP05 ENID’ blooms from May to October.    -   7. Dianthus ‘WP05 ENID’ is hardy to minus 15° Centigrade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dianthus variety ‘WP05 ENID’ showing colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘WP05 ENID’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 illustrates the entire plant in flower.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the flower.

All drawings were made of plants grown in 1.5-litre containers under anunheated glasshouse in Houndspool, Devon, United Kingdom. No chemicalswere used to treat the plants. All drawings were made using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance they are as accurate as possible byconventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘WP05 ENID’.Data was collected from plants grown in 1.5-litre containers under anunheated glasshouse in Houndspool, United Kingdom. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the 2001 edition of The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart of the Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. No chemicals were used to treat the plants.Growing conditions are typical to other Dianthus.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus ‘WP05 ENID’.-   Species: ×hybrida.-   Common name: Hybrid dianthus.-   Commercial classification: Hardy perennial herb.-   Use: Ornamental plant for small pots and containers.-   Parentage: ‘WP05 ENID’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from the open    pollination of a group of unidentified Dianthus seedlings.    -   -   Female parent plant.—Unidentified individual Dianthus plant.        -   Male parent plant.—Unidentified individual Dianthus plant.-   Plant description:    -   -   Bloom period.—May to October.        -   Plant habit.—Compact mounding habit.        -   Plant height.—20-25 cm in overall height, including flower            canopy.        -   Plant width.—25-30 cm in width.        -   Plant hardiness.—Hardy to minus 15° Centigrade.        -   Type.—Perennial.        -   Root system.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using stem            cuttings.        -   Cultural requirements.—Plant in full sun, well-drained and            moderately fertile soil and keep well fertilized and            watered.        -   Diseases and pests.—Susceptible to known Dianthus pests and            disease but no other susceptibilities to pests or disease            are known to the inventor.        -   Time required to produce a rooted cutting.—5 weeks are            needed to produce a rooted cutting.        -   Temperature recommended for cuttings to produce roots.—The            air temperature needed is a minimum of 15° Centigrade air            temperature and base heat of 21° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—3-6 months is needed to produce a finished            1.5-litre container size from a well-rooted cutting.-   Foliage:    -   -   Stem.—Shape: Cylindrical. Dimensions: 13 cm -20 cm in length            and 3 mm in diameter. Surface: Glabrous and glaucous. Color:            145C. Branching: Numerous shoots from the axils of the lower            leaves. Internode length: 10 mm-20 mm between nodes. Node            dimensions: 4 mm in diameter and 3 mm in length.        -   Leaf.—Type: Evergreen. Dimensions: 5 cm-7.5 cm in length and            3 mm in width. Color (adaxial and abaxial surfaces): 133B.            Shape: Linear. Division: Simple. Apex: Acute. Base:            Decurrent. Venation: Not prominent. Margins: Entire.            Attachment: Sheathing. Arrangement: Opposite and spiraling            up stem. Surfaces (adaxial and abaxial): Glaucous. Stipules:            Present. Stipule dimensions: 2 mm. width and 8 mm. in            length. Stipule color: 122A. Fragrance: Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Cymose.        -   Type.—Salviform and symmetrical.        -   Number.—3-7 per stem.        -   Dimensions (including calyx).—30 mm in length and 35 mm in            diameter.        -   Shape.—Circular.        -   Profile.—Reflexed.        -   Lastingness.—10 days at 20° Centigrade on the plant.        -   Fragrance.—Medium.        -   Flowering period.—May-October in Devon, UK.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: 20 cm-25 cm in length, 3 mm in width.            Strength: Erect. Color: 133B.        -   Bud.—Color: Each bud is 137A on apical half and 137B on            basal half. Anthocyanin: Absent. Dimensions: 18-20 mm. in            length and 8-9 mm. in width. Shape: Cylindrical.        -   Corolla.—Profile: Upper part of corolla convex, lower part            of corolla concave. Petal arrangement: Persistent,            apopetalous, and overlapping. Margin: Crenate-dentate.            Indentations: 2 mm deep. Texture: Soft. Type: Double. Number            of petals: 15-20. Dimensions: 30 mm in length, 10 mm in            width. Petal shape: Obdeltoid. Petal surface: Glabrous.            Color pattern: Blade has a large patch of red-purple with a            pale pink edge. Color of adaxial surface: Ground color of            blade: Ranges between 49B and 49D. Color of band around            blade: 53A. Color of middle of strap: 145C. Color of base of            strap: 145D. Color of abaxial surface: Ground color of            blade: 69B. Color of middle of strap: 145C. Color of base of            strap: 145D.        -   Calyx.—Dimensions: 20 mm in length and 8 mm in width. Shape:            Cylindrical. Longitudinal profile: Flat. Sepals: Fused.            Number of sepals: 5. Color of sepals: 143B. Anthocyanin:            Absent. Splitting: Not observed.        -   Epicalyx.—Number: 1 pair of 2 Shape: Acuminate. Dimensions:            7 mm in length and 6 mm in width. Color: 143A. Anthocyanin:            Absent.        -   Bracteoles.—Number: 2. Dimensions: 4 mm in length and 5 mm            in width. Color: 143A. Anthocyanin: Absent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—0-10.        -   Stamen dimensions.—15 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width.        -   Color of filaments.—White.        -   Anther number.—0-10.        -   Anther dimensions.—1 mm in length, 0.5 mm in diameter.        -   Color of anthers.—White.        -   Anther attachment.—Dorsifixed.        -   Pollen.—Absent.        -   Style number.—2.        -   Style shoulder.—Absent.        -   Color of style.—62D.        -   Style dimensions.—25 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width.        -   Stigma number.—One.        -   Stigma color.—White.        -   Stigma dimensions.—5 mm above petals above maturity.        -   Ovary position.—Superior.        -   Ovary dimensions.—5 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter.        -   Ovary shape.—Spindle.        -   Ovary color (upper and lower).—145B.-   Seed: ‘WP05 ENID’ does not set seed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘WP05 ENID’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.